jul_17__1980.html

Pix #2 - Reading left to right: Howard Hallman, Mr. Ballmer
and O.J. Eckert, father of Warren Elckert (Names supplied by the Elckerts
of Tampa FL)

Pix #3 - D.R. Ballmer

As soon as the RT papers reached readers June 24, I had
a call from Robert McMeen, who informed me that I had omitted the name
of one of the hardware stores that was included in the story about Fruth
Hardware.

I had gone through old city directories at the library
and I couldn't imagine what store it was.

McMeen told me it was the Rothrack-Pifer Hardware, at
102 S. Main. As soon as he mentioned it, I knew I had missed it. It
was not in the directories.

Another name which I was sure was included with the story
was Ballmer Hardware, also at 102 S. Main at one time, but was evidently
omitted.

The accompanying photos show Ballmer Hardware and D.R.
Ballmer, the proprietor, as recorded on postcards loaned to me by Warren
N. Eckert, Tampa Fl.

One of the postcards shows how Ballmer advertised his
business by entering a horserawn wagon in a community parade. Apparently,
Ballmer had a keen sense of humor when it came to advertising.

On the reverse side of the postcard showing his likeness
was the following description: "On the other side is given a likeness
of a notorious character still at large, and wantef for the MURDER of
high prices on stoves and ranges, tinware, cooking utensils, tin and
steel roofing, spouting, farm machinery, builders, and heavy hardware,
glass, belting, B.P.S. paints and varnishes. He is said to have made
the assault with an iron will, forged tp a caststee; determination.
Description - The accused is a slim, dark complexioned individual less
than 17 hands high, weight less than 500, wears a 50 cent shirt with
his shoes rundown at the heel, had black eyes and hair with a bald spot
on top, big feet and a large appetite. When last seen, he was doing
business at Big hardware Store in the Alcott Block, Fostoria. A Liberal
Reward will be given to anyone who catches him asleep during business
hours - D.R. Ballmer.

According to Hal Hoerig, proprietor of Fruth Hardware,
the article about his store has brought many responses from readers
and customers...even out of town.

KIEFFER'S STORE

Carl Cole, one of my Potluck readers is my watchdog he
watches my column regularly and tells me if I make a mistake. Recently
I placed Keiffer's Racket Store next to the old Fostoria Hospital on
South Main. He checked a directory and reminded me it was not next to
it, but a little farther north.

In that same item, I mentioned that Robert Kieffer was
the only one of the Frank Kieffer family still living. Mrs. Carl Clark,
229 E. Lytle, telephoned to inform me she was a daughter of Frank Kieffer
and still living as was her other brother, Marion, 216 E. Lytle. Mrs.
Clark jokingly remarked that as soon as she read the article she decided
to call. I wasn't going to let you bury the rest of the family yet.

Our conversation brought back many memories of Ken. He
was a schoolmate of mine, class of 1923. I recall many comical incidents
about him in school.

WATERWORKS TOWER

The Chamber of Commerce soon will publish a new brochure
about Fostoria, and on the front cover there will be a picture of the
base of the old water tower at Fostoria Water Works on West Fremont
St. The original water tower was featured in a potluck article Sept.
13, 1979, and that prompted its use in the new brochure. I contributed
some descriptive copy for the new brochure.

BORQUIN STORY

Esther Shaffer wrote about that article.

Miss Bourguin loved a good laugh, and she certainly would
have had one at the statement that she was an Irish Lass. Why Sproutie
thought that I can't imagine unless it was her quick temper, but the
Irish aren't the only ones with a short fuse. Actually, she was as French
as Alphose and Gasten. Bourquin was originally from bougin, meaning
an ancient book. Since the French "U" is pronounced like "yer" it quickly
became Bourquin on this side of the Atlantic.

I like her simpler poetry better than the one you quoted.
I think that one was tongue in cheek. She knew what opinion Saint Paul
would have of the lesbians of Lesbos from Soappho on. He didn't have
a very high opinion of women in general if we are to judge by his writings.
I like this one:

A SECRET SHE CAN KEEP

She never had a secret she could keep
Her mother always asked her and she told.
She even talked, when troubled, in her sleep,
For not a single thought could she withold.
She showed her husband every hidden hook
within her heart; as foolish women do
Her children read her like an open book,
Even her dearest memories they knew.
But now at last her lips are tightly sealed;
A smile upon them seems to come and go
In triumph for a story unrevealed
She has a secret that no one can know.

MCDOUGAL STREET

The McDougal Street article brought a telephone call from
Lester Kisabeth. He was born and reared on a farm east of Fostoria not
too far from the area where Barney McDougal settled. Kisabeth was related
to the Rinebolds, named in that article. He attended the rural Punk
Hollow school, before coming to Fostoria High School, and consequently
is acqainted with that area east of town.

SAILING VESSEL THE FOSTORIA

About a year ago Lester Kisabeth gave me a lead on a prospective
story. His son, Don, a doctor (O.D.), in Sandusky is also a history
buff. Don came across an item in an old issue of the Daily Commercial
Register, published in Sandusky in 1856, which had been reprinted from
The Detroit Tribune: "New Vessels - Two new vessels have been built
and recently launched at Black River, Ohio, which for their superior
construction and fine model, are highly spoken of. The name given to
one is The Fostoria, and she is intended chiefly for the timber trade,
with a carrying capacity of 300 M feet. The Henry Chapman, which is
the name of the other, is of a smaller class and will crry about 4,000
bushels of grain. Both were nodeled and constructed by Scott Lyone,
a shipwright of considerable fame at that point.

I attempted to pursue the item to see what further could
be learned. I knew that C.W. Foster, the storekeeper in the early days
of Fostoria, was also active in commercial ventures in the areas of
Fremont, Sandusky, and Black River Ohio (now Lorain).

Very little was turned up in my research but since the
vessel The Fostoria was chiefly for timber trade, and since there were
vast amounts of fine native timber all through this area, undoubtedly
C.W. Foster was active in the clearing of trees from the land and shipment
of timber from Black River. For that reason the vessel was named after
him. My conclusions coincide with those of Don Kisabeth.